BASICS (MLA)

Web address for this page:: https://libguides.reynolds.edu/mla

Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Quoting Sources:

When you quote a source, you include the author's exact words in your text. Use "quotation marks" around the author's words. Include signal phrases and an in-text citation to show where the quote is from.

Paraphrasing & Summarizing Sources:

When you paraphrase or summarize a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Select what is relevant to your topic, and restate only that. Changing only a few words is not sufficient in paraphrasing/ summarizing. Instead, you need to completely rephrase the author's ideas in your own words. You do not need to use quotation marks.

Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize, to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Continue to use signal phrases as well.

What are in-text citations?

MLA Specific Lessons

Signal Phrases

Visit this link for help with Signal Phrases: https://learnsourceusage.blogspot.com/2019/09/mla-signal-phrases.html

In-text vs Parenthetical Citations

Visit this link for help with In-text / Parenthetical Citations: https://learnsourceusage.blogspot.com/2019/09/mla-in-text-vs-parenthetical-citations.html

Works Cited

Woetzel, Denise. “Research Guides: Citation Style: MLA: In Text & Parenthetical Citations.” In Text & Parenthetical Citations - Citation Style: MLA - Research Guides at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 23 Sept. 2019, libguides.reynolds.edu/c.php?g=535461&p=3663645.